> Der Begriff Bildung wurde von dem mittelalterlichen Theologen und Philosophen Meister Eckhart in die Deutsche Sprache eingeführt. Er bedeutete für ihn das „Erlernen von Gelassenheit“ und wurde als „Gottessache“ angesehen, „damit der Mensch Gott ähnlich werde“
The term Bildung was introduced in the German language by the medieval theologist and philosopher Father Eckhart. To him, it referred to "acquiring through inner peace" and was considered godly: "so that man can become more like God".
(excuse my German reading skill, it's not as godlike as I'd like it to be)
That said, the equivalent Dutch word is "vorming", which translates literally as "shaping", so I don't the concept itself is religious in nature. As alluded (but not explicitly said) on the English page, I think the word lost its religious connotation by Humboldt's inclusion in his education model.
“Bild” is indeed “image”. Though one also says “bilden” to mean “generate”, “create”, or “consist of”. For instance, one might us it to say that two people “bilden” a team (i.e. make up a team).
Not conclusive, but Luther uses the word Bild in his translation of Genesis 1. That it may have had or acquired the meaning pretty easily given the Bible's formative currency in those years.
It is also remarkably similar in concept to theosis - still present in Orthodox faith, but goes back to at least early Byzantine Christians and is the foundation for the concept of ascetic monks.
> Der Begriff Bildung wurde von dem mittelalterlichen Theologen und Philosophen Meister Eckhart in die Deutsche Sprache eingeführt. Er bedeutete für ihn das „Erlernen von Gelassenheit“ und wurde als „Gottessache“ angesehen, „damit der Mensch Gott ähnlich werde“
The term Bildung was introduced in the German language by the medieval theologist and philosopher Father Eckhart. To him, it referred to "acquiring through inner peace" and was considered godly: "so that man can become more like God".
(excuse my German reading skill, it's not as godlike as I'd like it to be)
That said, the equivalent Dutch word is "vorming", which translates literally as "shaping", so I don't the concept itself is religious in nature. As alluded (but not explicitly said) on the English page, I think the word lost its religious connotation by Humboldt's inclusion in his education model.